Transfer diffusion mechanism for photocopying machines



March 2, 1965 GORDON 3,171,341

TRANSFER DIFFUSION MECHANISM FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Filed Sept 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. IC/M20 A, GORDON BY ail/0 1% M A TTORNSY March 2, 1965 R. A. GORDON 3,171,341

TRANSFER DIFFUSION MECHANISM FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Filed Sept. 4, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VE N TOR. R/C/l/JRD A; aaezrolv BY L alfm MA.

March 2, 1965 R. A. GORDON 3,171,341

TRANSFER DIFFUSION MECHANISM FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Filed Sept. 4, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 3 YNVENTOR. mcmzz: A 602mm rollers.

3,171,341 TRANSFER DIFFUSION MECHANISM FOR PHOTOCOPYING MACHINES Richard A. Gordon, 95 W. 3rd St., Freeport, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,534 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) This invention relates to a transfer diffusion mechanism for photocopying machines. Conventionally transfer diffusion is accomplished by placing the exposed member of a pair of sheets and a transfer sheet within a container containing a developing agent, passing the sheets through the container in separated relationship between curved separator blades, and then conveying both sheets between a pair of co-acting rollers to squeeze the sheets together thus causing transfer diffusion. The sheets are then separated and the exposed member discarded.

The conventional construction set forth above has a number of disadvantages. The curved separator blades are difficult to clean particularly in view of the oxidizable material which is present in the developing agent. Thus,

after a relatively short period of use, the mechanism must be disassembled in order to clean it. If the oxidized deposits are left on the blades the sheets will not pass smoothly through the developer and a proper image will not be produced. Also, since the sheets must slide along the blades, a certain amount of bind is produced between the sheets and the blades slowing down the mechanism and causing difficulties.

In the transfer diffusion mechanism of the instant invention the difficulties set forth above are obviated. No

separator blades are present Within the developer container.

The sheets are inserted into spaced slots located within a member overlying the container and thence passed through the container to the pair of co-acting The container contains no separator blades but, in the preferred modification of this invention, the sheets are passed along a'pair of spaced free-wheeling rollers disposed Within the container before meeting the co-acting rollers. These first-named rollers improve the transit of the sheets through the container.

Cleaning 'jof the container is simple since the freewheeling rollers are preferably spaced from the bottom of the container. Conventional cleaners can thus reach the operating parts with ease saving costly disassembly for cleaning.

The above description constitutes .a short rsum of this invention and some of the advantages thereof. Other objects and advantages would occur to those skilled in this art.

The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification. The construction shown in these drawings represents the best mode known to the inventor of taking advantage of his invention. However the reader is cautioned to note that the specific construction shown in said drawings is for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications may obviously be made Within the spirit and scope of this invention and would occur to those skilled in this art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photocopying machine embodying the transfer diffusion mechanism of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of the member used to drive the exposure member of the machine shown in FIG. 1. This member forms no part of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ma- United States Patent O 3,171,341 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 chine shown in FIG. 1 with the cover removed from the container of the transfer diffusion mechanism, certain other parts removed, and other parts broken away to show the internal construction.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the container member and associated parts of the transfer diffusion mechanism of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the container member of this invention and associated parts.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the container member of this invention and associated parts.

The invention will now be described in detail by specific reference to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

A photocopying machine 11 is formed with copy supporting mechanism 12, exposure means 13 (preferably a fluorescent bulb) exposure control means comprising a movable shield 14 over bulb 13 and a power roller 15 used to move the copy supporting mechanism 12 across exposure means 13. The above mechanism forms no part of the instant invention but is merely set forth for clarity. The mechanism set forth is fully described and claimed in the co-pending applications of Richard A. Gordon Serial No. 215,570, filed August 8, 1962, and No. 244,698, filed December 14, 1962.

The transfer diffusion mechanism of this invention comprises a container 16 having a pair of opposite spaced sides 17 and 18, a top portion 19 and a curved bottom 20. A cover 21 (preferably made of resinous material) overlies container 16 and is provided with a pair of angularly (preferably acute angularly) disposed slots 22 and 23 therewithin. A pair of angularly projecting shield portions (preferably acute angularly projecting) 24 and 25 are disposed upon cover 21 adjacent slots 22 and 23.

Container 16 is provided with a pair of spaced stepped openings 26 and 27 within each of sides 17 and 18. A pair of free-wheeling rollers 28 and 29 preferably made of resinous material are each formed with a body portion 30 and a pair of oppositely extending end portions 31 of reduced diameter. End portions 31 are adapted to fit within openings 26 and 27 and are of smaller diameter than that of the openings 26 and 27.

A pair of co-acting rollers 32 and 33 are disposed adjacent top 19 of container 16 and therewithout Each of rollers 32 and 33 is formed with a body portion 34, a pair of oppositely extending end portions 35 and 37 and a rubber envelope 36 about body portion 34. A pair of springs 38 and 39 are disposed within housings 4t) and 41 and bear against opposite end portions of roller 32 thereby biasing roller 32 against roller 33. A drain hole 51 is provided within the bottom of container 16 and a tube 52 is connected to hole 51. Tube 52 is pinched off Within slot 53.

A pair of complementary gear members 42 and 43 are disposed upon end portions 37 of rollers 32 and 33 intermediate the extreme end thereof. An additional gear 44 is disposed upon end portion 37 of roller 33 at the extreme end portion thereof. A motor 45 bears shaft 46 hearing gear 47. An additional gear 48 may be provided to drive the power roller shown in the drawing. A chain 49 connects gears 47, 48 and 44 to one another.

With the foregoing specific description the operation of this invention will now be explained.

Transfer ditfusion paper of conventional type is ex posed in juxtaposition with the material to be copied. This can be done in any mechanism or can be done by the exposure means 13 and copy supporting mechanism shown in the drawings of this application. As far as this application is concerned the exposure means used are conventional and form no part of this invention.

The exposed negative transfer diffusion paper is juxtaposed with positive transfer diffusion paper and the two sheets 4%: and 50 are pushed through slots 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 7. Sheets 4% and 50 are separated by slots 22 and 23 and then pass into the developing liquid 54 contained in container 16. The operator continues. to push sheets 49a and 50 through container 16 and, as a result thereof, sheets 4% and 50 contact freewheeling rollers 29 and 28 respectively. Rollers 29 and 28 are in operating alignment with sheets 4% and 50 so that the contact involved always occurs.

As the operator continues to push sheets 49a and 50 into container 16 the sheets move free-wheeling rollers 29 and 28 and the sheets bend around these rollers and abut one of the lateral portions of container 16. The sheets then leave container 16 and pass between rollers 32 and 33 which are located without container 16 and in operating alignment with rollers 28 and 29?. Rollers -32 and 33 grip sheets 49a and 50 and squeeze them together. At this point, also, since rollers 32 and 33 are powered through motor 45 the machine will continue the operation and the operator need no longer push sheets 49a and 50 through container 16.

Rollers 32 and 33 continue to force shcets 49a and 50 out of container 16 and squeeze them together until these sheets have passed completely through the rollers. The operator then separates sheet 4911 from sheet 50, discards the negative and dries the positive.

The foregoing description indicates how the objects of this invention are accomplished.

I claim:

1. A transfer diffusion mechanism fora photocopying apparatus comprising a container provided with an open top and having a curved bottom, a cover disposed above said container provided with a pair of angularly disposed slots therewithin, an angularly projecting shield portion adjacent each of said slots, a first pair of spaced stepped free-wheeling rollers within said container and spaced from said bottom, a second pair of co-acting rollers adjacent the t p of said container and therewithout, said firstand second-named pairs of rollers being in operating alignment with said, slots and with each other, and means driving said'second-named rollers.

'2. A transfer diffusion mechanism for a photocopying apparatus comprising a container provided with an open top and having a curved bottom, a cover disposed above said container provided with a pair of angularly disposed slots therewitbin, an angularly projecting shield portion adjacent each of said slots,a first pair of spaced stepped free-wheeling rollersv of resinous material within said gontainer and spaced from said bottom, a second pair of co-acting rollers adjacent the top of said container and therewithout, each of said second-named rollers having a body portion, a pair of oppositely extending end portions, and a resilient envelope about said body portion, said first and second-named pairs of rollers being inoperating alignment with said slots and with one another, complementary gear members secured to an end portion of each of said second-named rollers, spring means operatively connected with said second-named rollers biasing one against another, and power means driving said gear members.

3. A transfer diffusion mechanism for a photocopying apparatus comprising a container having a pair of spaced sides and a curved bottom, and provided with an open top and a pair of spaced stepped, openings within each of said sides in alignment with one another, a cover formed of resinous material disposed above said container and secured thereto, said cover provided with a pair of acute angularly disposed slots therewithin and having an acute angularly projecting integral shield portion thereupon adjacent each of said slots; a first pair of spaced stepped free-wheeling rollers formed of resinous material each having a body portion and a pair of oppositely extending end portions of reduced diameter, said end portions being also of smaller diameter than the openings within the sides of said container and disposed therewithin, said first-named rollers being also spaced from the bottom of said container; a second pair of co-acting rollers adjacent the top of said container and therewithout, each of said second-named rollers having a body portion, a pair of oppositely extending end portions, and a rubber envelope about said body portion, said first and second-named pairs of rollers being in operating alignment with said slots and with one another; first complementary gear members secured intermediate an end portion of each of said second-named rollers, a pair of spring members abutting opposite end portions of one of said second-named rollers so as to bias one of said rollers against another, a second gear member at'an end portion of one of said second-named rollers opposite to the roller abutting said spring members, a driving motor having a third gear disposed thereupon, and a driving chain joining said third gear to said second gear.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,894,440 7/59 Boger -89 3,103,153 9/63 Limberger 95-89 3,136,238 6/64 Corona 95-89 nvort o. BLIJJNK, Primary Examiner, 

1. A TRANSFER DIFFUSION MECHANISM FOR A PHOTOCOPYING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN TOP AND HAVING A CURVED BOTTOM, A COVER DISPOSED ABOVE SAID CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF ANGULARLY DISPOSED SLOTS THEREWITHIN, AN ANGULARLY PROJECTING SHIELD PORTION ADJACENT EACH OF SAID SLOTS, A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED STEPPED FREE-WHEELING ROLLERS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM, A SECOND PAIR OF CO-ACTING ROLLERS ADHACENT THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER AND THEREWITHOUT, SAID FIRST AND SECOND-NAMED PAIRS OF ROLLERS BEING IN OPERATING ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SLOTS AND WITH EACH OTHER, AND MEANS DRIVING SAID SECOND-NAMED ROLLERS. 